I'll admit it: I've had an ongoing love/hate relationship with Crochet Today magazine. As of late, I've found their patterns and overall aesthetic to be heading down the treacly crapper. But as noted in a recent post, I held out some hope for the recent issue. And holy cow, did they deliver! Now don't get me wrong, not all the patterns are stars, but the cardi below, for example, is an absolute knockout! It is on my to do list, lemme tells ya!
The cover hat by Lady Linoleum is a cute interpretation of this NYC fave (though, being a dyed in the wool New Yawker, I'd do it darker), and this beret looks like a fun challenge.
And is it just me, or do these pillows have a really appealing retro 70's vibe? Think log cabin bachelor pad....
There are a few other patterns that I think are nice, as well, and I'm keeping fingers crossed that this is signaling an editorial turnaround that will keep the old hooks flying.
In other mag news, I thought the cover sweater from Interweave Crochet to be surprisingly fashion-forward, in a Sex and the City kinda way.
I am totally loving this riding jacket, too!
And my friend Amy does a beautiful job on this gorgeous lace scarf. It reminds me of those amazing knitted wedding ring shawls in its delicacy. 
All this said, I am still thumping away on my knitting jag. I'll post photos soon here and on ravelry, but I gotta say, I'm digging the sticks. As usual, I have a few projects going, including two scarves, a Twinkle sweater, and a Nicky Epstein shrug that's so beautiful, you could cry.
Till later!
A quickie before we take off. Just saw the preview of the January Crochet Today. Not many photos, but what was there was slightly less eye-searingly awful than what they've been doing lately. But I'll withhold any praise until I actually see the damn thing.
Hope springs eternal
Ciao!
Nah, I haven't made one...yet. But if I keep up these Sunbonnet Sue-esque endeavors, I may have to.
Let me explain.
On Saturday, after purchasing a couple of Mason jars that I needed in order to create the starter culture for some Chevre I've been hankering to make, I set about baking some banana-cranberry bread. Yeah, that's right. I'm making cheese. I'm baking bread. That Mason jar to the right of my bread? That's the starter culture for the cheese. So that's Saturday. Come eveningtide, I'm continuing on my quest to finally get knitting through my thick skull. So I spent Saturday night in this, one of the world's great cities, sitting on my ass knitting. And watching Primevel. Whatever.
Sunday was spent ignoring the marathon and baking the SECOND LOAF OF BREAD in the weekend. Oh yeah. A remake of last week with the cunning addition of romano cheese. And DEEE-lish it is, too! So of course, we had to try it, warm from the oven, with my HOMEMADE butter. Am I possessed? Wait, there's more!
On the urging of my beloved rockpoolcandy, I bought a drop spindle and roving (why, Blue-faced Leicester, thanks for asking) from the Sheep and Wool Festival. I'm in the process of splitting the roving into a manageable weight before I actually spin. (Note to husband - I want a spinning wheel for Xmas - for serious).
How far am I from whittling? Or from starting an urban taffy-pull? Is weaving far off? Is my front yard too small for sheep? Can you grow corn in a window box? What about lacemaking?
Okay, I want to talk about knitting for a minute. Now, you all know I LOVES the hook, right? But ohmigod, it is so exciting to get to even this minimal level of literacy with the sticks! I haven't finished this frigging scarf yet, but already I'm scouring ravelry for knitting patterns thinking, why the hell not?
Despite the obvious errors in the pattern above, I'm thrilled at the results I'm getting on this bloody scarf. I'd admire it if someone else wore it, let alone make it.
Who the hell am I?
And, not for nothing, but the Manhattan Smiley's sale is on the horizon now, a half-block from my workplace. And I have a plan this year - I'm going for the luxe stuff, quality, not quantity. I have a few gifts I'd like to make and I'm finally at the point where I want my precious time to count -- to not waste it on cheaper, unpleasant yarns. They're fine for experimentation, but if I'm making a scarf for my BFF, it's gonna be a yarn that feels like heaven.
Okay, change of topic. I have two cents and need to spend it! Remember the old days when I used to wax poetic about Crochet Today? Pretend I never said it. I have been SO disappointed with them of late! Gone are the interesting, challenging projects. I guess they focus-grouped that puppy to only engage beginning hookers. Sad. It doesn't all suck, per se, but it's not the mag I used to look forward to. On the other hand, I was quite happy with the latest Interweave Crochet. The projects were really beautiful, some simple enough for the novice, others challenging enough for a more experienced crocheter. Maybe it all balances out. But I keep looking for the periodical that pushes the design envelope, and I don't really see it. Over dinner recently with my friend Crochet Insider, we lamented about the lack of magazines that really challenge their readers. I guess it's up to websites and books to be the source of all things edgy.
Hey, has anyone been to the new MADMuseum site yet? I'm, like, a 10 minute walk from them and STILL haven't hauled ass in there! And I've always loved that quirky building!
Okay, I think I'm done spewing for the moment.
Oh, except for this:
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OBAMA '08!!!!
I'll admit it: I've had an ongoing love/hate relationship with Crochet Today magazine. As of late, I've found their patterns and overall aesthetic to be heading down the treacly crapper. But as noted in a recent post, I held out some hope for the recent issue. And holy cow, did they deliver! Now don't get me wrong, not all the patterns are stars, but the cardi below, for example, is an absolute knockout! It is on my to do list, lemme tells ya!
The cover hat by Lady Linoleum is a cute interpretation of this NYC fave (though, being a dyed in the wool New Yawker, I'd do it darker), and this beret looks like a fun challenge.
